The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-13

Ell them, as the good lady afterward re
marked, horse, foot and Dragons"
Then she called convention Of the
boarders, and told the tale.
"H you won't mind a dinner Of cold
lamb and lettuce to-day, said she . with
dessert of snow pudding that | can
make myself | will promise you some
thing more elaborate tomorrow"
And they cheerfully consented
John, the stable boy, was the only adj
'herent left, and he harnessed up the hor-
ses AMI drove down the mountain side
10 farm house, where lived Mrs. Bease-
ley, the mother Of the big boy who had
been the school ma ANS worst enemy at
first, and her most faithful ally ever af-
terward.
Mrs. Beasley,r said Arethusa, |
want to borrow your two daughters -
Bless me, Miss Arethusa, said she,
what forYr
"To helpme at the George House ~ and
Arethusa told her story. Joanna and
Fanny are quick, smart girls. I'll pay
them a dollar and half week to act as
mattresses.
They'd oblige you. Miss Arethusa,
cheerfully, without cent" said Mrs.
Beaseley.
They will oblige me more by accept
ing suitable compensation said Are
thusa At this stage of the world eve
rything is worth money value. you know.
What say you, girls? viii you go?''
And welcome, said Fanny.
"If we can learn the business" said
Joanna, who was shyer, and more dis
trustful of herself
~I'll make it my business to instruct
you" said Arethusa, brightly "Pack up
your things BE ready to jump into the
wagon when l come back"
Can't DO nothing Miss Allen?" said
big Junius.
I'm going to get Susan Rich to do the
washing" said Arethusa. If you would
turn the handle for her sometime"
"Ill turn it from now until doomsday,
if it'll help you, Miss AIlen,' he said.
Susan amt half a bad girl, neither, if
she didn't chaf fellow Sc"
Thank you, Junius,7 said Miss Allen
" You will oblige me very much"
Mrs Ridley, who had once been house
keeper in a grand Poughkeepsie family,
and now lived on her interest money,
volunteered Us cook, with the assistance
Of Marian Sewer, the rector's daughter,
who had spent a winter in New York and
taken lessons of Miss Parola
1t viii be such fun, said pretty Mar
ian, dancing up and down. And Mark
is to be Miss Aliens caterer, and send in
supplies to her"
Yes" said Mark Sevier-a college
professor-who had just come home to
the parsonage to spend his vacation
the Gorge House shall De literally sup
piled, even if | have to turn highway
robber for Miss Aliens benefit But |
hope, Miss Allen. there need be no dan
ger of our coming to that extremity.
know the farmers who raise lambs. and
calves, and tender Young broilers' can
pat my finger in brooks where trout do
congregate, and boys who would like
nothing better than to catch them. /
know where the berry -pickers live, and
there isn't melon patch or a plum or
chard that cant press into service. You
shall live like epicures at the Gorge
House y
~Ob, Mr.. Sewer, how can ever thank
your said Arethvsa, who had scarcely
known how 10 manage this portion OF
her duties.
DO not try" said Mark, gaily
Miss Euphrasia Boggs, the dress-maker
and Kitty Plume, who wove rag carpets,
swelled the ranks of Mattresses, as soon
As they learned that Miss Sewer was go
ing into the kit hen, and that Arethusa
herself was to give out the linen and
help with the deserts old Mrs. Jenkins
came a. dishwasher
Anything to earn an honest penny"
said she.
And the mattresses, when off meal duty
were to act as chanbermaid's under Are
thusa's own direction, so that by night
fall the new staff of attendants We're all
on service.
Well" cried Arethusa, gaily, to Mrs.
Binns, What do YOU think now ?''
dunno what to think" said the
landlady, with a sigh of intense relief.
. Ii does seem as if you had witches
blood in your veins. Miss Allen"
The little band ofindustry worked well
under its enthusiastic young leader OF
course there were some hitehes.r some
awk sardness, a few blunders What
housekeeping machinery was ever devoid
thereof But ON the whole il was dis
tinguished success. Gorge House had
never known better season. Mrs. Binn's
treasury had never represented a more
satisfactory balance. And when the
boarders, driven by keen October frosts,
went away, many of them had engaged
rooms for the ensuing season
Mrs Binn's hugged and kissedArethu-
"a with the heartiest good will.
My DEAR" said she, q if ever fat old